The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-04-29

and tried to accomplish this. A majority of
the delegation finally said that they would
vote for Chase in the convention. They did
so, but we could not keep the dele.
CATION solid. The balloting went on,
and 1 had my secretary keep a. close
tally of the votes, as they were
taken. He told me how each candidate stood
ut the announcement of the vote of each
state During the second ballot of the second
day saw from his statement that three votes
would nominate Lincoln. / then asked the
dalega ion il four or five of them would join
ne IN leaving Chase and voting for Lincoln.
/ told tli,n how the count stood and that
they could thus elect Lincoln and beat Sew
ard. l did not know Lincoln, but l had no
faith in Seward and wanted him beaten
The Ohio delegation consented at once TO the
move. / knew Mr.. Ashman, the chairman OF
the convention, and l caught his eye. He
gave me the floor and changed the vote Of
Ohio and Lincoln was nominated. A minute
later the convention appreciated. that new
president had been made. They burst into
storms of cheers, and Lincoln then got the
first Of that enthusiastic support which fol-
lowed him to the polls in November
"Yes," the judge went on, Il had much
to do with nominating Gen. Grant, and
| know perhaps as much about his NOM,
ination as any man i'll the United
s. $. The Republican PARTY was ID
very critical cond' ion du:.Ig the last
days of Andrew JoInson's term. Johnson
was drunkard, and lie was utterly unfitsfor
the position which he held. The leaders of
the party at Washington had many councils
together as to what should be done. The
question was, who should lead the party dur
ing the coming cainpaigns A number of
candidates were spoken of, and among them
Gen. Grants name was now and then Wills
y red It was not, however, mentioned, in
the newspapers. He was then general Of the
army, and had had nothing of political
career. He had been Democrat before the
war, and the Democrats were themselves talk
ing of him as candidate. believed that the
most danger to our party lay in his probable
nomination by the Democrats. / thought the
matter over and decided that we must bring
him out as q candidate. IL he accepted our
nomination, well and good. was sure we
could elect him. If he declined it the Demo-
Gratis could not take him up as their candi-
date, as we had claimed him as ours, and
we would thus keep him out Of the campaign.
Grant was at this time the most popular man
In the United States. His laurelsas general
patriotism and was possessed Of a great love
for the Union. felt sure that If we elected
him as Republican president, he would be
true to his party and to the country.
"He was brought forward through the
agency of John w. Forney, editor of
The Washington Chronicle. proposed
Grant as candidate to Forney. I met
him on Pennsylvania avenue and asked
L. -. IL he
dency was 4 have no candidate replied
Forney. We'll, what do you think OF
GrantT said !.
"He demurred little and told him my
reasons for thinking Grant good candidate,
l showed him the danger which threatened
the party in case the Democrats should
nominate Grant. Ispoke of Grants patriot
ism and the fact that he wanted to see the
Union preserved. He has good record,
said [, and it is such one that it can well
Be put II the newspapers, Il closed by
urging him to 60 to The Chronicle Office aud
write leader nominating Grant as the candi-
date of the Republican party. After You
have printed it, saidI wait few days; then
take occasion to meet Grant, and notice what
he says about it,
"Forney still demurred. He did not know
whether we could trust Grant. But upon
my urging he dnally consented and wrote
the editorial The article created a great
sensation. 1t was widely noticed and Grant
was brought out as prominent candidate.
"A few days after tkis Forney met Grant,
as | suggested. Gen. Grant was very indif-
ferent He said he did not want to be can
didate, that he was well satisfied with his
position as general of the army. and that he
did not want to go into the White House. He
mobabiy looked upon the White House in
the same light as does Gen. Sherman now.
Sherman, you know, says that White House
life Is synonymous with that OF Hades and he
does not want il. Forney demonstrated with
Grant on the ground of patriotism. He tois.
him his election was neces airy to the preser
walton Of the Union. He brought
forth the attitude of Mcclellan
and made strong plea in favor OF Grants
acceptance He went away, however, with
e.ss getting any satisfaction. and when i NJ
Grant few days after this found lliiu ST
indifferent, and be told me that he did o d
want to be a candidate. / saw, however.
that he was somewhat interested, and st
him satisfied thar the leayem was working AMI
that he would finally accept. toM rorney
60 and long before the coilvention met sfrant
oav.. nc 10 understand that he wev'i accent s
IA nominatlon ~ teai,.eI..d. He was nomz-
mated aid elected. His Republicanisn grew
turing the canvass, and he became one IA the
strongest members of ths, party. Hatisse not
brought him out the probabilities are that the
Democrats would have nominated him, and
M whole history of the country might have s.
been changed &*s
speaking of Grant, il has been generally
loreotten 1.iat purse OF $i00. .0OO. was RAISED
n, Nj him after the war closed. heard the
tory 81 this to. day. Grant was Vt the he'al
y ti,e army. and nothing was yet Thought g
aim a. 4 presidential candidate y was sup,
oosed that be would spend the remainder of
III life hero aa general IN chief. he w'ss
,oor and was living With bis fanny Y.
,,,, ~, ,,,irr ,,o,,sa Al man naIned cprbin
,wned I large house which he Ind bought g
yr,,,,, 4, Rreckenridge for go, ,UuOa iie but
lid Il for i lone time, and ne wasltesi 70 se'